Without a doubt, the single greatest training resource for American manufacturers can be found within the local community colleges scattered throughout the United States.
No longer simply the junior colleges of past generations, today's community colleges are larger — often larger than most four-year colleges — and more in tune with the needs of the local business community.
Most, if not all, still offer an Associate of Arts degree and are a cost-effective way for people to get the first two years of college out of the way before heading off to a (more expensive) university to complete their undergraduate degree. But that's just the tip of the iceberg.
After all, these are the "adult education" folks, whose charter is to fill the gap in the educational training needs of the adult community.
These days, they are also full partners with their local community and regional economic development efforts. Their personnel, as well as their facilities, are literally at your beck and call.
When your company qualifies for a work force training grant, the chances are good that the training will be conducted at, or at least under the auspices of, the nearest community college.
If, based upon your capital investment and the number of jobs your company is projected to create, you qualify for state work force training assistance, then you need to get to know the leadership of the community college. They will be important partners in your company's ability to be up-and-running as quickly as possible in your new (or expanded) facility.
If your company is new to the community and you need to train your new local workers on equipment and operating procedures, they can help. If your company is expanding in its current location and bringing on new equipment, they can help with that, too.
In many states, this relationship between local economic development organizations and community colleges is codified in law. For the rest, it is usually the most cost-effective way of meeting your company's training requirements.
What programs are available in which states? Is my company eligible even if all we are doing is expanding in our current location? Who do I contact for more information? Well, the answers to those questions and more — in fact, everything you ever wanted to know about work force training programs in each of the 50 states — can be found on pages 10 and 11 of this month's Expansion Management. All of the data contained in the chart is current.
I would even suggest that you keep this issue handy for future reference. You're not likely to come across this information anywhere else.
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